Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Cesar Chavez Day

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement commemorating the legacy of Cesar Chavez:

"Today, which would have been the 84th birthday of Cesar E. Chavez, is observed as Cesar Chavez Day. His legacy is important for every American to remember. Cesar was a civil rights leader whose efforts shed light not only on the injustice and struggles of farmworkers, but on our land and our environment, too.

"A former farmworker himself, Cesar fought for fair treatment, fair wages and better working conditions for the countless men, women and children who labor in the fields every day.

"Cesar was a man who – with quiet leadership but a powerful voice – inspired a movement and changed the course of America for generations to come. Through his courage, he taught us that a single voice could change our country, making us stronger and more just.

"His life's work is a reminder to me, as the secretary of labor, that the work we do at the Labor Department is about workers and their families, their well-being and their advancement."

• Read this news release en Espa ol.